Community : Document List - Spider Valve

Spider Valve Mk II Firmware Update Instructions

support@line6.com — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:34:16 GMT

Update Instructions:

All Spider Valve Mk II 112, 212 and HD100 amplifiers can be updated using an FBV MkII Express, FBV MkII Shortboard, or via MIDI with a USB to MIDI interface as follows:

Connect your FBV MkII to your Spider Valve MKII using a standard FBV cable.
Connect your FBV MkII to your computer using a standard USB cable.
Launch Line 6 Monkey on your computer.
Select your Spider Valve MKII as the connected device if it isn't automatically selected.
Select the Flash Memory line item and click "Update Selection".

Please also refer to the following FAQ for further update details: http://line6.com/community/docs/DOC-1584

***Please note: You MUST register your Spider Valve Mk II amp, and the FBV MkII Express or FBV Shortboard MkII in order to proceed with the update.

Updating Note: Updating firmware does not erase User Presets. To return the amp to its factory settings, which includes restoring original User Presets and Amp Model Defaults, press the "A" Channel button on power up, then press the "Presets" encoder.

Dialing In Spider Valve MKII Tones

support@line6.com — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:04:25 GMT

This is 4-part video tutorial for Spider Valve MKII users on dialing in tones created by Line 6 Expert, Rowbi.

Dialing In Spider Valve MKII Tones (Parts 1-4)

[Video Tutorial] Line 6 Head and Cabinet Connections

support@line6.com — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:10:15 GMT

Part 1: Spider, Spider Valve, HD147, and Vetta heads into the original Line 6 Stereo cabinet and Spider cabinet.

Part 2: Spider, Spider Valve, HD147, and Vetta heads into the Line 6 Stereo Vintage 30 cabinet.

[Video Tutorial] Spider III and Spider Valve Factory Reset and Patch Save Procedures

support@line6.com — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:09:05 GMT

Below is a video that illustrates how to perform a factory reset procedure on a Spider III or Spider Valve amplifier as well as how to save patches on your amplifier.

Spider Valve MKII FX Infusion Update (2.0)

support@line6.com — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:34:40 GMT

Spider Valve MKII FX INFUSION v2.0 is a free firmware upgrade for your Spider Valve MKII 112, 212 and HD100. It requires the purchase and registration of either of the USB equipped FBV Shortboard MkII or FBV Express MkII foot-controllers to enable computer connectivity to the amp. This new firmware features:

A total of 56 FX Models, bringing the total in your updated amp to 76! (All the FX from Spider FX Infusion 1.52 plus 28 more Stomps, Comps, Mods, Delays, Reverbs and Wahs).

Overdrives / Stomps

Bronze Master (Maestro Bass Brassmaster)

Dingo Tron (Mu-Tron III (down switch on)

Facial Fuzz (Arbiter Fuzz Face)

Classic Distortion (ProCo Rat)

Tube Drive (Chandler Tube Driver)

Compressors

Blue Comp Treb (Boss CS-1 Compressor (treble switch off)

Line 6 Comp (Teletronics LA-2A)

Line 6 Vetta Comp

Line 6 Two band Parametric EQ

Delay

Echo Platter (Binson EchoRec)

Line 6 Phaze Eko

Tube Echo (EP-1 Tube Echoplex)

Reverb

Line 6 Brite Room Reverb

Line 6 Cavernous Reverb

Line 6 Dark Hall

Line 6 Rich Chamber

Line 6 Slap Plate Reverb

Line 6 Standard Spring Reverb

Mods

Analog Square Chorus (Boss Square CE-1 Chorus w/ square wave)

Line 6 Expo Chorus

Line 6 POD Purple X

Line 6 Random Sample and Hold

Line 6 Square Flange

Line 6 Tape Eater

Wahs

Chrome Custom Wah (Custom Vox V847 Wah)

Conductor Wah (Maestro Boomerang Wah)

Fassel Wah (Cry Baby Super - Jen Electronics)

Throaty Wah (RMC Real McCoy 1 Wah)

Continued compatibility (added with 1.50) with Spider Valve Edit.

Update Instructions:

All Spider IV 112, 212 and HD100 amplifiers can be updated using an FBV MkII Express, FBV MkII Shortboard, or via MIDI with a USB to MIDI interface as follows:

Connect your FBV MkII to your Spider Valve MKII using a standard FBV cable.
Connect your FBV MkII to your computer using a standard USB cable.
Launch Line 6 Monkey on your computer.
Select your Spider Valve MKII as the connected device if it isn't automatically selected.
Select the Flash Memory line item and click "Update Selection".

Please also refer to the following FAQ for further update details: http://line6.com/community/docs/DOC-1584

(Register your FBV MkII Express or Shortboard if it isn't already registered, then proceed with the update)

Updating Note: Updating firmware does not erase User Presets. To return the amp to its factory settings, which includes restoring original User Presets and Amp Model Defaults, press the "A" Channel button on power up, then press the "Presets" encoder.

*For online Help docs click HERE.

*If you have already registered your hardware, launch Line 6 Monkey to download the v2.00 update.

Updating the Spider Valve Mk II using Line 6 Monkey

support@line6.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:55:10 GMT

This document explains how to update the flash memory of the Spider Valve Mk II using the FBV Mk II and Line 6 Monkey on Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Mac OSX 10.4.11, 10.5.8 and 10.6.x. Before you get started, you will need to have your Spider Valve Mk II connected to the FBV Mk II (Express or Shortboard) using a CAT-5 cable, and you will need to have your FBV Mk II unit connected to an open USB port on the back of your computer (do not use a USB hub). Be sure that your computer is connected to the internet.

1) Run Line 6 Monkey and you will be asked which unit you want to work with. Highlight the Spider Valve Mk II unit and select “OK”.

2) Highlight “flash memory” (it will turn blue), then select “update selection”.

3) Select “Yes” to continue.

4) Select "I Accept" for the software agreement and select “continue”.

5) Select “Yes” to update the Flash memory. Do not run any other programs or disconnect the cables while performing the update.

6) Allow the unit to go through the update process. This can take 5-10 minutes.

7) Select “OK” when the update is finished.

8) You will see a green check mark in front of flash memory to show it is now up to date.

Note: If you are having diffculty getting the Spider Valve Mk II to update, you can start the amp in "boot mode" by powering the unit up while holding the "Manual" and "B" buttons.

Spider Valve FX Infusion

support@line6.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:54:47 GMT

Q: What is the Spider FX Infusion?

A: Spider FX Infusion is offered as a free firmware (1.50) update for all Spider Valve Mk II (112, 212, HD) amplifiers owners with a Line 6 FBV MkII Shortboard™ or Express™ Controller or MIDI- USB interface device.

Q: How do I update the Spider Valve Mk II (112, 212, HD) amplifier to the 1.50 firmware?

A: There are two ways to update the Spider Valve Mk II firmware:

1) Using an FBV Mk II Express or Shortboard to update the firmware via Line 6 Monkey. See the following link for the procedure:

Updating the Spider Valve Mk II using the FBV Mk II and Line 6 Monkey

2) Using a MIDI-USB converter. Please see the following link for more information on updating Line 6 gear via MIDI:

MIDI: Functionality, Control, and Connectivity with Line 6 devices

Q: Is the Mk II version of the FBV Express or shortboard required to update the firmware on my Spider Valve Mk II (112, 212, HD) amplifier?

A: Yes, as the previous FBV (Mk I) does not have the USB connection necessary to connect to a computer for the update. You will also need to have the FBV Mk II Express/Shortboard registered to your user account to complete the install. You may also update via Midi as described above, and in that case you will need to register the amp to your user account instead of the FBV MkII Express/Shortboard to complete the install.

Q: What is the Spider Valve Edit software?

A: The Spider Valve Edit software allows you to edit and download tones for your Spider Valve Mk II amplifier on your computer. See the following link for more information on using the Spider Valve Edit software.

Spider Valve Edit FAQs

Q: Do I need to calibrate my Expression pedal on my FBV Mk II unit after I perform the firmware upgrade?
A: Yes. See the following link for the information on how to calibrate your FBV Mk II pedal (and update the firmware if necessary):

FBV/Shortboard/Express/FBV2 Controller: Calibration and F.A.Q.s

FBV Mk II (Express and Shortboard) software update

Q: What new effect models are included in the Spider FX Infusion firmware update?

A: There are 28 new effects in the update 1.50. In addition, there have been some changes made to the amp modeling that reflect a desire for the amp to “open up” a bit more, especially when played at higher volumes. This will occur as the amp having a bit more gain overall, and as increased headroom for some of the clean and mid gain models. As always, experiment with the relationship between the Drive, Channel Volume, and Master Volume knobs to find your desired tone.

FX-1 – Gain

Blue Comp: Based on* the Boss® CS-1 Compression

Vetta Juice: A Line 6 original originally created for our flagship Vetta II guitar amplifier.

Boost & EQ: A stompbox compressor that also provides you with some EQ controls so you can further shape the tone.

Screamer: Based on* an Ibanez® Tube Screamer®, the overdrive heard round the world.

Killer Z: Based on* Boss® Metal Zone, the industry standard distortion pedal for metal players since 1989.

Octave Fuzz: Based on the Tycobrahe Octavia, the classic fuzz+octave effect.

Bass Overdrive: Based on* the Tech 21 Bass Sans Amp

Clean Sweep: This is a wide range sweeping filter with a slow decay. It’s similar to Auto Wah, but with a band pass filter shape.

FX-2 – Chorus/Phaser

Analog Chorus: Based on* the Boss® CE-1 Chorus Ensemble.

Square Chorus: Based on* the Boss® CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, but with a square wave acting as the magical modulator.

Random Chorus: This chorus uses three different modulating filters all running randomly.

Jet Flanger: Based on the A/DA Flanger.

Lumpy Phase: Kinda like a Uni-Vibe®, but more radical.

Warble-Matic: It can produce a nice mild phasey sound or with the depth maxed you can simulate the sound of an alien spacecraft .

FX-3 – Delay/ Sweep Echo

Analog Delay: Based on* the Boss® DM2 Analog Delay.

Dual Delay: Run this effect in the “pre” position to have a dual delay (two delay paths with separate feedback control). The time parameter sets the 2 Feedback time, while the offset sets the 1 Feedback as a percentage of 2 Feedback. So, If you set time to 500ms, and offset to 50%, your 1 Feedback will be 50% of 500ms- in other words, 250 ms. Note: always run this delay in the “pre” position to hear the Dual Delay. Running in “post” will cause 1 Feedback to do nothing.

Bubble Echo: Bubble Eko has a Sample and Hold filter on the repeats. A Sample and Hold filter takes a filter sweep (like the one on Sweep Echo), chops it up into little bits and rearranges them semi-randomly.

Reverb

King Spring

Large Plate

Small Room

Tiled Room

Chamber

Medium Hall

Large Hall

Wah

Chrome: Based on* a Vox® V847

Colorful: Based on* the wah part of a vintage Colorsound® Wah-Fuzz

Weeper: Modeled after* an Arbiter® Cry Baby

Spider Valve Edit FAQs

support@line6.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:46:22 GMT

Q: What is Spider Valve Edit?

A: Spider Valve Edit is offered as a free software editor for all Spider Valve Mk II (112, 212, HD) amplifiers owners. Spider Valve Edit requires either a MIDI to USB connection from the amp to a computer, or a and CAT-5 connection from the amp to a Line 6 FBV Shortboard™ MkII or FBV Express™ MkII Series Controller with USB connection to a computer. See the following link for more information on updating your Spider Valve Mk II:

Updating the Spider IV (75, 120, 150, 150HD) using the FBV Mk II and Line 6 Monkey

Q: Do I need to have version 1.50 (or later) firmware installed on my Spider Valve Mk II amplifier to use Spider Edit?

A: Yes, firmware version 1.50 or later is necessary to interface with Spider Valve Edit.

Q: Where can I download Spider Valve Edit?

Spider Valve Edit Download

Q: How Can I get the Spider Valve Edit Manual?

A: You can open the PDF document attached at the bottom of this document, or select the F1 key when using the Spider Valve Edit program.

Q: Can I share Spider Valve Mk II tones using Customtone?

A: Yes, here is the direct link to the Spider Valve customtone sharing site:

Customtone

Q: What is the file extension for files that will load into Spider Valve Edit?

A: Spider Valve Edit will accept the .sve (single patch) and .svb (bundles) file extensions.

Q: Are Spider Valve Mk II tones compatible with the Spider IV tones found on Customtone?

A: Although the amp models are the same, the extension name for Spider Valve Mk II and Spider IV are different.

Q: Why am I seeing an asterisk in the patch title when I change a parameter in a preset?

A: An asterisk will show preset that has been edited, and will need to be saved either on the computer or the amp to make the change permanent.

Q: Can I use the FBV Mk II to control the Spider Valve Mk II when I am using the FBV controller to interface with Spider Valve Edit?

A: The FBV controller cannot function as an amp controller when being used as an interface for Spider Valve Edit.

Q: Can I import multiple tone patches at once?

A: You can import single tone patches or bundles at once, but not multiple single patches simultaneously.

Q: Can I change the global (Auto FX, MIDI, Loop routing, etc.) parameters in Spider Valve Edit?

A: Global parameters can be changed on the amp, but cannot be controlled by the editor.

Spider Valve Mk II Presets, Specs, and FAQ

support@line6.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:51:47 GMT

Application

Q: What are the presets on my Spider Valve Mk II amplifier?

A: There are 64 presets (16 banks of 4) programmed into the amplifier at the factory, and 64 “empty” preset locations for an end user to program. The “empty” 64 preset locations have defaults (1-4) in them as a starting place. See the bottom of this FAQ for a PDF file for download.

Q: I noticed that the Artist/Song Presets from the Spider IV are not present on the Spider Valve Mk II?

A: Yes, as many end users had asked for more locations to store their personal presets, we have removed the artist/song presets for the Spider Valve Mk II.

Q: Are the Spider Valve Mk II series amps Mono(phonic)?

A: Yes, the Spider Valve Mk II series amplifiers have a monophonic output (as are most tube amplifiers).

Q: How can I connect a POD unit to my Spider Valve Mk II series amplifier?

Connecting to Amps and Computers, Output Settings, Floorboard Compatibilty, Fletcher Munson, Multiple Amps

Q: Do the Master volume and presence control applied to the power amp section only?

A: Yes, the master volume and presence control are true analog.

Q: Where is the Master volume located in the chain?

A: it is after the preamp, and before the power amp.

Specifications

Q: What are the specifications of the Spider Valve Mk II series?

Spider Valve Mk II Specifications

Q: What speakers are used in the Spider Valve Mk II amplifiers?

Spider Valve 112: Celestion Vintage 30, 8 ohm

Spider Valve 212: (2) Celestion Vintage 30s, 16 ohm

Spider Valve 412 cabinet: (4) Celestion Vintage 30s, 16 ohm

Q: What tubes ship in the Spider Valve Mk II amplifiers? What is the power output?

Spider Valve Mk II 112 & 212: (2) Sovtek 12AX7B preamp tubes, (2) Sovtek 5881/6L6WGC power amp tubes. 40 watts.

Spider Valve Mk II HD: (2) Sovtek 12AX7B preamp tubes, (4) Sovtek 5881/6L6WGC power amp tubes. 100 watts.

Q: What are the function of the 12AX7 tubes?

A: V1 is the booster to the output tubes, V2 is the phase inverter for the output tubes. When viewing the SV MKII HD100 upright from the back, V1 is on the right side. On the combo, V1 is on the left side.

Q: Can the Spider Valve Mk II handle another 12A_7 style tube without damage to tubes or circuitry?

A: Yes, but as these tubes act as a phase inverter and a boost to the power amp (rather than traditionally "cleaning up" the preamp section), you may not get the result you are looking for.

Q: What Line 6 controllers work with the Spider Valve Mk II series amplifier?

Controller compatibility chart

Setup/Connection

Q: Is there a bias switch to change the power tubes to EL-34s or other power tube types?

A: No, the Spider Valve Mk II does not offer bias switchable options and was designed to only be used with 6L6 power amp output tubes.

Q: Is there a headphone output on the Spider Valve Mk II series?

A: There is no headphone output on the Spider Valve Series, but you can use the XLR output to go to a mixer, then use the headphone jack from the mixer.

Q: Can I run my Spider Valve Mk II amplifier without a speaker load?

A:No, you cannot run the Spider Valve Mk II series without a speaker load. Please see the following link for more information on cabinet connections:

Cabinet Connection and Ohm F.A.Q.

Q: Can the Spider Valve Mk II be run with a Variac?

A: This is not recommended as the lower voltage can cause problems with the digital processing in the Preamp section of the Spider Valve Mk II.

Q: Can I run a Palmer S.E., THD Hot Plate, Power Soak, etc. for speaker simulation or power attenuation?

A: There are no known issues regarding the use of any direct recording simulators or power attenuators between the power amp output and the speaker cabinet, but if there is damage caused by improper connections or malfunctioning gear it will not covered under the Line 6 warranty.

Q: Do the Spider Valve Mk II 112 and 212 combos support external speaker cabinets? If so, will the external cabs mute the internal speakers of the Spider Valve Mk II?

A: Yes, the Spider Valve Mk II supports the use of additional cabinets. Please ensure that the ohm load is correct to avoid damaging your amplifier if you intend to use both the internal and external speakers simultaneously.

Q: What is the bias voltage for the 6L6 tubes?

A: 35 ma (or mv)

Q: Does the XLR output still send signal when the amplifier is on standby?

A: In some cases yes, in some no. Spider Valve MkII actually has two different modes of Direct Out, which can be found in the SETUP menu in Edit Mode. They are Studio and Performance. Studio mode is a traditional, DSP POD-style output with speaker simulation and will function when the amplifier is in standby mode. In contrast, Performance mode takes a tap off the output transformer, then goes through the speaker simulation before going through the Direct Out. This allows the tubes to interact with the DSP, and because the amp has to be on to allow this to happen, there will be no signal at the XLR output in standby if Performance mode is selected.

Q: Does the Spider Valve Mk II have an FX loop?

A: the Spider Valve Mk II has a pre-amp out (effect send) and Power amp in (effect return) section.

Q: Is the effect loop series or parallel? Is the effect loop mono or stereo?

A: The effect loop is series mono.

Q: Does the Spider Valve Mk II have MIDI ports?

A: Yes, the Spider Valve Mk II amplifier series has both MIDI in and MIDI out ports, and the Spider Valve Mk II will accept MIDI program changes on MIDI Channel 1-16, from values 00-127. The MIDI channel assignment can be accessed by pushing the “preset” encoder and using the left/right arrow key to reach “MIDI”. This greatly increases the opportunity to integrate Spider Valve MkII’s into your existing rig, and will also allow you to update your amps firmware via MIDI. See the advanced user’s guide for the full MIDI story.

Q: Can I send a MIDI output from the Spider Valve Mk II to another MIDI-capable Line 6 amplifier and control both amplifiers with one FBV controller?

A: Yes, but as different Line 6 amplifiers have different MIDI implementation you will want to go through each control on the FBV to ensure that you get the desired control on both units.

Q: Is there an editor where I can connect my Spider Valve Mk II to my computer and edit/store tones?

A: Yes, Spider Valve Edit is the editing software that can be used to edit the Spider Valve Mk II. Please see the following link for more information:

Spider Valve Edit FAQs

Q: What do the FBV Shortboard series stomp, FX Loop/Function 1, and Function 2 do?

A: The Stomp button activates the "boost" on both the original FBV shortboard series (Mark I) and Mark II controllers. The FX Loop (Mk I)/Function 1 (Mk II) activates the Noise gate. The Function 2 (Mk II only) activates the loop feature on the Spider Valve Mk II.

Q: What do the FBV Shortboard MkII Function 1 and Function 2 buttons do with Spider Valve MkII? How is it different from the original FBV Shortboard?
A: The Function 1 button activates the Boost setting saved with each preset. The Boost setting (up to 8db pre and/or post amp model) can be found by entering “edit mode” on the SV MkII and pressing the R arrow on the 4-way nav button. The button equivalent to Function 1 on the original FBV Shortboard is labeled FX Loop.
The Function 2 button (FBV Shortboard MkII only) is equivalent to the Quick Loop button on the faceplate of the SV MkII, and arms the built in Looper. For full functionality of the Looper, see the Spider Valve MkII Advanced User Guide. In addition, the Stomp button activates the first Smart FX on both the original and MkII FBV Shortboard controllers.

Q: Can I run the Spider Valve Mk II head with only the outer two power tubes (removing the inner pair) to operate at a lower output volume?

A: Yes, it is safe to run the Spider Valve Mk II Head with two 6L6s. It is recommended that the output impedance be run at "half" when running in this configuration. An example would be running the 8 ohm head output connected to the 16 ohm cabinet connection, or the 4 ohm output to an an 8 ohm cabinet connection. Line 6 recommends re-biasing your amplifier to 35mv after removing the tubes, as the current draw will have changed.

Q: Where is the fuse located in the chain?

A: The fuse is located between the 12AX7s and 6L6s (there is no “master” fuse).

Spider Valve Cabinet FAQs

Q: What are the specs for the Line 6 4x12 cabinet?

A: 9 ply, ¾” wood with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. There is no “internal baffle”.

Q: What are the ohm load options for the 4x12 cabinet?

A: The switchable ohm load options for the 4x12 cabinet are 16 ohm mono, 8 ohm stereo, and 4 ohm mono.

Trouble shooting:

Q: What is the manufacturer’s warranty for Spider Valve Mk II?

A: The warranty for the Spider Valve Mk II amplifier is 12 months from the date of purchase, the tubes warranty is 90 days from the date of purchase.

Q: How do I perform a factory reset on my Spider Valve Mk II?

A: The factory reset for the Spider Valve Mk II series is to hold the "A" button while powering the unit, then pushing the “presets” encoder twice.

Q: I hear a loud "pop" when I switch between certain presets on the Spider Valve MKII. Is this normal?

A: Sometimes if the Channel Volume is set or saved too low on a preset a loud pop will be heard when navigating to it and away from it. This is because of the level difference between it and the other saved presets. Try adjusting the preset's Channel Volume above "12:00" and saving again. This should level out the difference between the presets and eliminate the popping sound.

Q: Will using different brands of 6L6 tubes in the Spider Valve Mk II void the warranty?

A: No, feel free to experiment with other tubes of the same type as long as they are correctly biased.

Q: My amp seems to be malfunctioning. What can I do as an end user?

Amp Troubleshooting

Tube Troubleshooting and Replacement

*Q: Where can I download a Spider Valve Mk II manual?

Line 6 Manuals

Miscellaneous

Q: Where can I get a cover for my Spider Valve Mk II amplifier?

Cases And Covers

Tube F.A.Q.

support@line6.com — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:43:08 GMT

Q: What is the difference in power rating between tube and solid-state power amplifiers?

A: Tube power outputs can peak 200 to 400% above solid-state, so a 50watt tube power amp can output a volume equivalent to a 100-200w solid-state amplifier output.

Q: What are the common Preamp tubes?

A: The 12AX7 (ECC83 is the European term, or the military term of 7025) is the most common preamp tube for driving the Gain and EQ sections of the amplifier, as well as driving the signal into the power amps.

The following tubes have a lower power rating and can be used in the preamp section or other amplifier functions such as the reverb tank drivers, inverters, etc.

12AT7 (ECC81, 6201): 60% power of the 12AX7

12AU7 (ECC82, 5963): 19% power of the 12AX7

12AY7 (6072): 45% power of the 12AX7

Q: What are the common power amplifier tubes?

6L6 (5881/KT66): Commonly used in American amplifiers such as Fender, Mesa, Peavey. Typically has more low-end emphasis.

EL34 (6CA7/KT77): Commonly used in British amplifiers such as Marshall. Typically has more midrange emphasis.

EL84 (6BQ5): Commonly used in Vox , Gibson, Matchless, and Bad Cat amplifiers

6550 (KT88): Commonly used in VHT, Ampeg SVTs, and Leslie Speakers cabinets. Typically has more power output than the other tubes listed here.

Q: What other power amp tubes are compatible with the Spider Valve?

A: Line 6 stresses using 6L6 (5881/KT66) power amp tubes only. Other power amp tubes such as 6550's can draw too much power and damage your amp and void your warranty.

Q: How long should I let tubes "cook" after biasing before I measure again?

A: The standard cooking time is 3-6 hours after an initial bias (regardless of the tube age).